Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative has hired long-time Boston resident Juan Leyton as its new executive director.
“We are excited to welcome Juan Leyton as the Executive Director of DSNI as we engage our community in the work of development without displacement and working for success for every child. We are fortunate to have him join us and he follows in the footsteps of some extraordinary leaders like Chris Jones, John Barros, Greg Watson, Ro Whittington, Gus Newport and Peter Medoff,” stated Glenn Knowles, DSNI Board President.
Leyton was selected after a rigorous search and will join DSNI in May, 2015. Juan has worked extensively in the field of community economic development and community building in Boston and in Massachusetts and holds master’s degrees in community economic development and public policy. Most recently, he worked as a consultant with the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund and some of Boston’s leading nonprofits like Sociedad Latino, Family Independence Initiative and the Greater Boston Latino Network. He has also previously served as Executive Director for CityLife/Vida Urbana and Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts. Juan and his family live in Roslindale.
“I am so pleased to be joining the DSNI team and to be part of the rich history and work of community based decision-making in developing and strengthening the Dudley neighborhood,” Leyton said. “I look forward to the opportunity to continue the organizing and planning work when as a neighborhood and a city we have so much at stake.”